UFC
UFC 141's Alistair Overeem discusses NSAC testing confusion, continued steroid accusations
Dec 16, 2011 - 11:50:24 AM UFC 141's Alistair Overeem discusses NSAC testing confusion, continued steroid accusations

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Alistair Overeem has faced suspicions of steroid use for much of his career, and with his failure to comply with the Nevada State Athletic Commission's request for a random drug test right away in the past month for UFC 141, that hasn't helped the conversation.

However, the Dutch striker tried to clear up the situation with the NSAC in an interview with ESPN.com, and maintained that he's not a steroid user.

"I didn't know [random testing] could happen," Overeem explained. "Nobody told me. The rules and regulations were unknown to me. The other thing is, how do you get that done in Holland? How do you get that done if you live in China? How do you do that if you're somewhere else?"

Though the NSAC stated during their meeting last week that they hadn't had issues with other fighters the way Overeem's situation played out in Holland, Overeem insists he did what he felt was right when he was given the request.

"The rules and regulations in Holland are different," he began. "Whenever you have a condition here, you go to your doctor. You have to make an appointment. They slipped me through within 24-to-48 hours because it was important. You then get a referral to another facility, where you have to make another appointment."

"First time I went there, I didn't have the specifics of the test. I was only told I needed to do a drug panel test. With those instructions, I went to lab and did a test. It took a few days, and the commission responded, 'These are not the correct results. You need to do it again.' So, I went back to the doctor and he said, 'We don't know how to do that.' I had to go to another agency, which needs a formal request from the organization you're fighting for to run the test. A combination of factors caused the delay."

The confusion in just what type of test he needed to take also came about as the NSAC was in contact with his assistant instead of Overeem himself, and that's one of the reasons the Commission granted him a conditional license. Of course, that also means he has multiple tests he has to pass before and after UFC 141, but Overeem continues to be steadfast in his innocence when it comes to steroid use.

"People have accused me of using steroids since I was 17," he said. "I remember my first fight, my girlfriend was in the audience, and she told me people, jealous guys, were whispering I was taking steroids. That was when I was 17. I was a middleweight back then. All I can say is my side of the story. When I was 20, I was already a natural heavyweight. I weighed 222 pounds."

"Cutting the weight to light heavyweight worked out in the beginning, but I couldn't do a strength and conditioning program and I was dieting all the time. When I made the decision to move to heavyweight, I went on a food program, strength and conditioning program, and I gradually gained weight. Eleven years ago, I was 222 pounds. Now I'm 265. That's 40 pounds added in 11 years."

Ultimately, Overeem isn't concerned with the critics, and he's not going to attempt to control something he can't.

"I firmly believe everyone is entitled to his/her opinion," he said. "We have free speech. If people want to talk that way, let them talk that way. I can't control what people say. If they want to insinuate things, that's fine. I'm too occupied with my own career to bother with it."

"I'm going to do whatever the commission asks me to do. It's my job. On a positive note, I'll be the most tested fighter ever. That takes away the critics' argument."

Penick's Analysis: Fighters that look like Overeem does (and there aren't many) are always going to have people that believe they're on something. Even though many of the fighters and athletes that have been caught using performance enhancers don't look anything like him. Still, it would be impossible to quiet his most ardent critics no matter how many tests he passes. He can't concentrate on the doubters, and he sounds like he's not going to in the least.

[Alistair Overeem art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]